Not Your Granny's Gershwin: Hahn-Bin at Joe's Pub

Hahn-Bin is what would happen if Lady Gaga met Itzhak Perlman and they had an andro lovechild with a raven-black dollop for hair. On Tuesday night, the 23-year-old, Seoul-born violin prodigy/renegade took the stage at Joe's Pub––in ruffles, bright colors, and exquisite makeup––and single-handedly dusted off the otherwise stuffy genre of classical music. Snipping the ribbons of a bouquet of candy-colored helium balloons and a dramatic rebirth from inside a coffin were part of his act, which also included an almost jazz-like, sassy performance of "It Ain't Necessarily So" from Porgy and Bess, and a gorgeous rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." (The latter actually elicited heartfelt awwwwws from the audience of mostly twenty- and thirty-something PYTs). This is clearly not your granny's Gershwin. Don't miss his next performance at Joe's on December 13!

Photos by Bettina and Kevin Yatarola










Naomi and Bettina